"Tony Wise asked me to design a good trail system at Telemark. I spent
14 days there and laid out trails similar to the Vasalopet trails in
Sweden. Later, Marty Hall added more hills. From the point of view of
competitive skiers, it is a very good course."

~ Sven Wiik, Nordic guru, Steamboat Springs, Colorado

"The Birkie has been a factor in my life since the first time I skied
the trail in 1976. My philosophy is to do whatever we can do to foster
participation in the overall event. I want more people on the snow and
enjoying the weekend."

~ Ned Zuelsdorff, Executive Director, Cable, WI

Praise for 2009 Events!

I had a great time skiing my first classic birkie in many years. I want to congratulate Ned and everyone else who have worked so hard to bring the Birkie and the classic trail to near perfection.~Mick

The classic trail was a blast!!

I had so much fun!

Nice work with the buses this year. The addition of the skier drop-off area was an excellent change. This was the easiest year (out of 12 completed) that I have ever had to get dropped off and bused to the start. Thanks for this change, I hope you can keep this change in place for future years.~Eric

The Volunteers are the best. Many thanks to them.

Beautifully groomed trailsMany eager, enthusiastic volunteersFewer grumpy contestantsMore space and less congestion on the skate trailsOutstanding finishes. Is the winner of the classic going to have some bragging rights to his kids and grandchildren?!

To me the day is close to a religious experience, you are excited but respectful, almost reverent to the course and the challenges of the day. The people you are skiing with are all comrades on a mission to soak up the day and dig within to see what we all have down deep.

I pray I will be able and worthy to ski again next year.~Hugh

Thanks for a wonderful event! It's truly a pleasure being a participant.~Roger

The extension of the classic trail is great!

I had a great time, I'm an avid runner cyclist and I was very impressed by the amount of support that was available to the athletes at the Birkie. Thank you!

Superb Event! I traveled from Colorado to ski the event and from my perspective, I saw a "well-oiled" and well-supported event. I was moved emotionally by the community participation and the atmosphere of the day.

I have Birkie Fever already and its only March!

Excellent Birkie. Your volunteers make it smooth to those of us who come in for the event. They are much appreciated and help to promote the enthusiasm of the weekend.

Thanks for another great race!

The new classic trail is great. Wish it was even longer.

Great Race and great job by all!!!

A big thank you and congratulations for another extraordinary Birkebeiner. Everything was perfect as usual. Great volunteers at the food stands, miracle grooming by those miracle groomers, and a fantastic race. The number of hours everyone puts in to make this race so special is appreciated beyond words by us skiers. Thank you, thank you and thank you!~Barb

Everything was awesome and I've got "Birkie Fever."

Much love from Alabama! One closer to the purple bib.

I also thank everyone in the Birkie organization for another very well run event. It was a pleasure to visit Hayward once again. I look forward to my 31st Birkie in 2010!

Gets better each year.
Keep it up.

This year was my first Birkie at age 68. The whole experience surpassed my expectations, including the trail itself, which was a lot better than I had imagined. The hills one after the other made for a great ski with no dangerous hairpin bends at hill bottoms to take skiers out in pileups like some ski marathons have. I had no close calls. Thanks!

I look forward to the Birkie each year, your volunteers are the best, and the race is very organized and exciting. Thanks so much!

You do a great job with the race. It has become a family tradition.

Great job...compliments to the populace of all the Hayward/Cable area.Thanks for everything Birkie!

Greetings from the Birkie®!

Hi Skiers and Friends!

We hope your Spring has gone well and you've been able to run, bike, hike or otherwise stay active. Our outdoor work projects will begin soon and the Trails will be mowed over the next three weeks.

We are also preparing for the Birkie Trail Run, Relay and Trek scheduled for September 26, 2009. We already have several Relay teams and individual runners registered. This is a fun oriented celebration of the Fall season here. Get a relay team together, or run or Nordic walk yourself and be part of it. Includes great t-shirts, food and lots of door prizes. Enjoyment is guaranteed!

Your comments and ideas continue to come in and are appreciated. You can always contact me at ned@birkie.com.

Fitness in 5 Premiers on WOJBBirkie Fitness Coordinator, Jay Tapper, long time Birkie Skier and Founder Jacque Lindskoog and WOJB have teamed up to provide Fitness in 5. Jay and Jacque will bring you a five minute program every Friday morning at 10:45 a.m. Jacque a regular volunteer voice on WOJB will help Jay present the exercise of the week. You can listen online at WOJB.

"When American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation Executive Director, Ned Zuelsdorff visited the Norwegian Birkebeiner he was impressed by the atmosphere of the event. It was more about skiing as a lifestyle than training and competition," said Tapper. "We discussed the opportunities to bring that attitude to the Birkie and together came up with Fitness in 5 as a way for the Birkie to promote fitness as a lifestyle."

"Teaming with Jackie Lindskoog and WOJB gives us a vehicle to educate people on improving their fitness so they can maintain good health and participate in lifelong recreational activities," said Tapper. "The promotion of fitness shows that the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation, although known for its quality ski race, is active in promoting healthy lifestyles and activities for all ages and interests."

Visit WOJB to download software that will allow you to listen to their station online.

To learn more about Fitness in 5 click here. To learn more about Jay Tapper or to read his monthly fitness articles published in this ezine click here.

Birkie Nordic Walking Clinic Hosted by Ski & Tea

When: Saturday, June 20, 2009

Where: Birkie Trail at the OO Trailhead Shelter, Seeley, WI

Time: 10 AM - Noon

Cost: $5

The Clinic is being hosted by Ski and Tea, an active woman's group from the Cable-Hayward area. The clinic will be presented by the Twin Cities "Queen of Nordic Walking", Linda Lemke, coordinator of Hoigaards Outdoor Woman's Program.

Registration for the clinic will be held at the "OO" cabin, three miles east of Highway 63 at Seeley on County Highway "OO". There is a $5 fee for the clinic to help cover the cost of post-clinic refreshments at Mooselips Café in Seeley.

Loaner poles are available for $5. Participants will receive a $5 discount coupon for the Birkie Trail Run, Relay and Trek. Please wear comfortable clothing and good walking shoes.

Call the Birkie office for more information at 715-634-5025, or email birkie@birkie.com, and please let us know if you plan to attend.

Get your team together and join us for the 26.2 mile Marathon Relay, one of the great events of the 2009 Birkie Trail Run, Relay & Trek being held Saturday, September 26, 2009.

The Marathon Relay includes categories for 3- and 6-person Open, Women's and Mixed teams. Teams will be handicapped based on participant ages and genders to even the fun oriented competition. The members of each winning team in each category will be awarded a winner's plaque. In addition, the fastest overall team, based on handicap time, will each receive a pair of Salomon XT Wings Trail Running Shoes.

The relay begins at 9 a.m. at the Cable Rod & Gun Club, near Cable and ends at Hatchery Creek Park. Water, energy products and medical support will be available on the course, but Marathon Relay teams will be responsible for transporting team members to specified relay exchange points using a single vehicle. The drive route includes sand and gravel forest roads and higher clearance vehicles are recommended. The Marathon Relay is limited to 75 teams.

Several teams have already registered. Get registered today, click here!

The Birkie Trail Run, Relay & Trek has an event for everyone. All events are held on the world famous Birkie Ski Trail during one of the most beautiful times of year in the Northwoods.

Join us on Saturday, September 26, 2009 for a challenging trail run, relay or trek!

Four events to choose from:

3 or 6 person Marathon Relay (26.2 miles)

Individual Half Marathon (13.1 miles)

5K Fun Run & Walk

Birkie Trek (13.1 mile Nordic Walk)

American Birkebeiner t-shirts for all! Class awards and post race refreshments also provided.

For more information or to register for one of the events click here or contact the Birkie Office at 715/634-5025 or birkie@birkie.com.

Expos & Events to Check OutRunning a marathon or coming to Musky Fest in Hayward? Be sure to stop by and say "hi", check out information on the 2009 Birkie Trail Run, Relay & Trek, talk to staff about the 2010 American Birkebeiner & Kortelopet and register for great raffle give-aways. The American Birkebeiner will participate in the following events this summer and fall:

Planning to attend? Please RSVP to the Birkie Office at 715-634-5025 or birkie@birkie.com.

Board of Director ElectionsFour Board Member term's are expiring this year. Candidates interested in running for the Board of Directors must submit a completed Candidate Profile. It is very helpful if you submit the profile in electronic format. It can be addressed to ned@birkie.com. In addition, all non-incumbent candidates must submit a Nomination Endorsement form that contains a minimum of ten signatures from current ABSF members. All application materials are due in the ABSF office no later than Thursday, July 9, 2009.

Interested in running for the Board of Directors, click here for more information or contact ned@birkie.com

Did you miss these pins?

The pin donor has made a limited number available for sale at $12 each, with proceeds going to the Birkie Trail Fund.

Price includes shipping and handling. Please call 715-634-5025 to order your pin today.

Actual pin size 1"x5/8".

2009 Birkie Video Available

Support CXC and the American Birkebeiner by purchasing this great video of the 2009 American Birkebeiner. Click here to buy now www.birkievideo.com

Two disc DVD set for $24.95 (includes shipping and handling.)

DVD
1 puts you in the lead pack of the 36th American Birkebeiner as the
men travel the hills of the Birkie Trail competing to achieve victory
on Hayward's Main Street. DVD 2 shows highlights from the Barnebirkie
and Elite Sprints and follows all Birkie and Korte wave starts with
continuous footage of skiers on the Powerline.

Birkie® Fever

The Final Race for Grampa

By Dick MacWilliams

It happens to all of us, that final race. In 1988, Grampa of the future was living the dream: winning the age division of the American Ski Chase series, starting in the Elite Wave at the Birkie, and on top of my skiing game. Life began changing when my grandsons were born.

I was still in Wave 1, as Ryan and Jacob grew up as skiers. Hayward, Telemark, Barnebirkie, Junior Birkie, CheqTel family race, Kortelopet, and the American Birkebeiner were a part of their lives. We share hundreds of exciting memories, and add more each year.

They each remember when they turned age three, as they waited patiently for Grampa's promise. I pulled to the side of the course, at the bottom of Main Street, where Ryan, then later Jacob, rode on my shoulders the full length of Main Street, as I finished the Birkie. Those minutes given up by a competitive skier were one of the more intelligent decisions I made. Ryan is now 17, Jacob 15, and that ride is not going to happen again, unless they carry me.

We know you have a story to tell. Whether you are a skier, spectator or volunteer we want to hear from you. Birkie Fever is a phenomonen that touches many people in many different ways. Share your Birkie Fever with others. Send 300 word essays or short quotes and photos to media@birkie.com. Afraid you can't write? Don't let that stop you. We can take your words and weave them into a great Birkie Fever story.

Training Tips

Testing and Improving Your FlexibilityBy Jay Tapper

Jay's Note:
The goal of the monthly fitness articles is for you to develop a
comprehensive fitness program. Previously we have talked about posture
and spine stabilization, two important components of fitness. A great
addition to your Spine Stabilization program is the Single Leg Bridge.
This gives you an additional spine stabilization exercises to add to
your fitness program 3 times per week. As always be aware of your
posture and its importance in proper exercise technique and fitness, Balance the Tray.

The
next important component of fitness is flexibility. Flexibility is
defined as "The range of motion in a joint or series of joints." The
flexibility exercises we will be using are called static stretches.
Static stretching is the sustained lengthening....Continue reading, click here.

Jay Tapper
is owner of ActivEdge LLC. ActivEdge specializes in safety, fitness,
and ergonomic programs for business and industry. ActivEdge also
provides personal training services. Jay is a NASM Certified Personal
Trainer and Corrective Exercise Specialist. For further information
contact Jay at 218-393-8767 or www.Activedgewi.com.

From
the Barnebirkie to the Birkebeiner, this citizen's ski race features
something for everyone. Watch for 37th anniversary details in upcoming
issues of Carpe Skiem and online at www.birkie.com.

About the Birkie®

From
February 25-27, 2010, more than 7,000 fit, colorfully-clad skiers from
all walks of life and from around the world will descend upon the
Wisconsin northwoods to participate in the 37th anniversary American
Birkebeiner, a cross-country ski race that weaves more than 50
kilometers (30 miles) along a hilly, heavily wooded trail from the
Telemark Resort near Cable to the finish line on Main Street in
downtown Hayward.

For
some, it's serious business. The Birkebeiner is part of the
Worldloppet, a circuit of 15 Nordic ski races held on four continents.
The race attracts a top cadre of professional racers from 19 countries,
including past and present Olympians and those competing in the
International Ski Federation standings.

For
many hundreds of others, though, it's an annual celebration of personal
endurance and outdoor enthusiasm. Since its inception in 1973, 'The
Birkie' has grown into the largest cross country ski marathon in the
nation. While pros may complete the course in about two hours, legions
of weekend warriors soldier on in triple that time. Citizen skiers can
compete in the full race or sign up for 23 kilometer Kortelopet or one
of our many other events.

You
don't even have to click into skis to join in on the party. An
estimated 15,000 to 20,000 spectators line many portions of the route,
and it seems all of Hayward is there cheering at the finish line.
Equipment demos, citizen sprints, family fun races/tours and other
events round out the weekend.